He watched her carefully. “Yes. We are, for all intents and purposes, engaged.”
“Perhaps we could talk about the wedding and reception we are about to attend. We can discuss what-if scenarios and what comes after that on this journey.”
“Sure. Great idea.” He tried not to sound disappointed. It was good to discuss strategy and ensure they were on the same page if their engagement story was tested.
Francine’s gorgeous face took his breath away. “Why don’t you order dinner? We can discuss our plans and strategy for Pru’s wedding and reception. We need to expect pretty much anything and be prepared for it.”
“True.”
“I’d also like to know what we’re doing after we leave the reception. What plans you’ve made and the like. I want to be ready.”
“Sure. I’ll tell you all.” He told himself to calm the heck down and headed to the communication station on the ornate glass-topped desk.
It was reasonable for Francine to want to know where they were going and what they were doing. He’d tell her what he could. Some things about Victor would have to remain secret. He had no reason to feel disappointed. She was being very practical, while he had visions of the bed fit for a king they probably weren’t going to share. He hoped the sofa in the luxury living room was as comfortable as it looked.
He picked up the communication device and prepared to order a nice dinner to go with their coming practical conversation.
Francine gifted him with a beautiful smile and said, “Excellent. Then after dinner we can discover if the bed in this place is fit for a bounty hunter and his bride-to-be.”
Francine had been thinking about spending the night with Raphael since he scooped her up from a nasty fall and kept her from crushing Angel a week ago. No. That was a lie. She’d been thinking about it since before she was introduced to him in Valene and Wyatt’s foyer. The bounty hunter had been on her mind for months.
She’d wanted him the instant she saw him strolling through the Big Bang Truck Stop basement facility with the Grey brothers, plotting their strategy to capture the infamous Indigo Smith.
Raphael kissed her like he wanted to do all manner of wicked things to her and with her, but ultimately always held himself in check. Never went too far. Never crossed the line. Never acted like a wolf unable to be tamed in any rapturous moment.
When she suggested they discover the viability of the bed, his whole body went rigid. He sent her a wildly scandalous gaze followed by one with an equal amount of uncertainty. He bobbled the communication device in his hand and almost dropped it.
“What do you mean?”
Oh, you know exactly what I mean.“I mean,” she paused before continuing, “…we areengaged, right?”
His expression shuttered. He set down the communication device and approached her. He looked resolute, like he planned to tell her how he intended to keep holding himself in check. She had news for him. It wasn’t going to work this time.
“Francine.” He stopped short of her personal space.
“Raphael.” She closed the small distance between them and slid her palms up his chest until she settled her arms around his neck. “I have plans for you.”
His eyes narrowed. “Do you?”
“I do. Please stop being so gentlemanly and start thinking about later tonight when we’re all alone together in a bed fit for a king or a bounty hunter and his bride-to-be.”
He wrapped his arms around her slowly, molding her body to his frame. “I haven’t thought of much else.”
“Prove it.” She pressed a cheek to his chest, imagining she heard the tempo of his heartbeat increase.
“Right now?” He nuzzled his face into her neck, placing a kiss below her ear. It tingled even after he pulled away.
“Unless you’re too hungry.”
“Food is not what I hunger for.”
“Good.” Francine kissed his stubbly cheek. She kissed his jaw, equally prickly. She kissed the corner of his mouth, tantalizing her lips. He tilted his face to align their lips and kissed her like she ruled him, heart and soul. She closed her eyes and sank into him, giving herself over to his control.
She lost all sense of time and place. When she opened her eyes, Raphael had carried her into the enormous bedroom. Her gaze went to the luxurious oversized bed, complete with regal canopy and lush decorative curtains framing the pillow-strewn surface.
He kicked the door shut behind them and resumed the scorching kiss. The back of her legs hit the edge of the bed and he stopped moving, but didn’t end the kiss.
